Matarazzo's Boundless Ambition: 'People Who Set Limits Don't Believe in Themselves'
Real Sociedad's new manager Pellegrino Matarazzo opens up about his ambitious mindset, unique background, and plans to lift the struggling Basque club from the relegation zone.
The Italian-American mathematician turned football manager is ready to bring his limitless philosophy to San Sebastián as he takes on the challenge of rescuing La Real from their precarious position.
From America to Anoeta
Pellegrino Matarazzo might be the most interesting gaffer in La Liga right now. The son of Italian immigrants who settled in the States, he’s got quite the backstory. His first language was actually Italian before picking up English growing up in America, and now he’s added German and Spanish to his linguistic arsenal.
“Rino” as he’s known to many, isn’t your typical football manager. The bloke’s got a proper degree in Mathematics, but he’s smart enough to know where the numbers end and the human element begins.
“I know where the limits of data are. You can’t divide the human spirit into data, and this sport is always about people,” he explains in a refreshingly philosophical take that’ll have the stats nerds and old-school gaffers nodding in agreement.
Family Man, Fitness Fanatic
When he’s not plotting tactical masterclasses, Matarazzo is:
- Enjoying coffee with his wife
- Playing Zelda with his son
- Walking his dog
- Staying fit through running, cycling and gym work
- Reading (though not as much as he’d like)
- Traveling to exotic destinations like Japan, Costa Rica, and Tanzania
His work ethic comes straight from his parents - his dad a mechanic grafting all day while his mum raised four kids with “love, affection, hard work and commitment.” Proper family values, that.
Ambitious to His Core
If there’s one word to describe Matarazzo, it’s ambitious. This is a bloke who moved to Germany without speaking a word of German, never played professional football, yet wound up managing in the Bundesliga. Talk about backing yourself!
“I’m very ambitious,” he states with conviction. “People who set limits don’t believe in themselves.”
That’s the kind of Adam’s apple and Eve’s that Real Sociedad need right now - someone who believes anything is possible with hard graft and self-belief.
American Optimism Meets Basque Passion
Matarazzo credits his American upbringing for his optimistic outlook: “I believe many things are possible. This may come from my youth in the United States, where I learned to be very optimistic.”
For a Real Sociedad side currently languishing in the drop zone, this injection of positivity couldn’t come at a better time. The mathematician has calculated his next move, and it’s all about lifting La Real back where they belong.